Month: May 2015

Kids, Fish, Candy and Blue Ribbons

Memorial Day Kids Izaak Walton Fishing Tournament

Photos and story by UseppaGin

Captain Ken led the Useppa Fisherman’s Oath.  Children short and tall stood around him with one hand pledging and the other holding a rod.  Then is was every fisherman for his or herself.  The Annual Memorial Day Kids Izaak Walton Fishing Tournament was underway.

Sophia caught the first fish, a 10″ snapper.  Mulan caught The Biggest Fish, a 16″ catfish.  Owen caught The 2nd Biggest, a 12.5″ mangrove snapper, and William caught Most Unique, a 9″ sheepshead.  Colin ties for Most Fish with Dylan.  They each caught five.  Ten other fishermen caught at least one fish and everyone got candy and a Blue Ribbon from Miss Hilary.

Kids fishing on Useppa, a legacy passed down over thousands of years.

Island Mother’s Day

Photographs and story by Useppa Gin

An island Mother’s Day is different from one on the mainland.  There is a more relaxed pace.  On Saturday a morning sail or baking cookies and making cards for moms at Miss Ginny’s set the tone.  On Sunday it began for three generations with a visit to the grotto at the southern tip of the island, the grandfather having spent his own childhood here.  For others it started with a walk down the airstrip.  A mother, daughter, and son-in-law sipping coffee while their third generation was home still asleep.  The Sellers went for a golf cart ride with their German Shepherd Sally.

At 11:30 a festive brunch was served at the Collier with complimentary mimosas for moms — casual seating outside on the patio or relaxed inside dining.  Music in the background, children jumped in and out of the pool.  One father was in charge of his two little ones, mom given a bit of time off.  Usually those Sunday roles are reversed with mom and two toddler girls in the water and dad on the tennis court.  Boats kept coming and going in the Marina, members arriving for lunch or residents off to go fishing.  Friends with a long afternoon and no responsibilities played croquet on the lawn.  Children on the beach played in soft, lapping waves.  Grownups napped under a cabana’s shade.  Mother’s Day on Useppa.

Off and Running on Useppa

Photographs and Story by UseppaGin

The betting was heavy, the horses were fast, but Best in Show on Useppa went to the outstanding screamers Pason G. and Shane S.  It was close as the photographs show, but it was Pason at the end who yelled the loudest when American Pharoah crossed the Derby Finish Line.  The Tarpon Bar was full, almost as many hats as partiers.  Cheers determined Useppa’s Derby Hat Winner.  Diana S., last year’s winner was disqualified from the finals because of her previous victory.  That left three finalists strutting in front of the applauding crowd, but ultimately, the victory went to Mary M.  In terms of a party….another Derby win for Useppa.